Computers

10/26/2016

A Microsoft study reveals that Millennials are more likely to fall for security scams. Specifically, users were tested using the same techniques as the current tech support scams. The scams take on several different presentations, but often begin with fake blue screens of death advertisement pages warning of malware infections. Once you click through or call the displayed phone number, users are often asked for remote access to their computer. In another common variant, the user receives a cold call purportedly from Microsoft tech support stating that the computer is infected with malware and has sent data to Microsoft about the infection. The caller tells the user to execute some commands to show errors, thus trying to validate the infection. Ultimately, the scam tries to get remote access to the machine.

No matter what the delivery method of the scam, the younger folks bit more often. Only 17 per cent of respondents 55 years and older took the bait, while 34 per cent of folks aged between 36 and 54 fell for scams. No matter how old you are, Microsoft does not call you to tell you that your machine is infected.

10/20/2016

Seagate has announced a 2.5 inch 5 TB hard disk for $85. That's only $17 per terabyte. Is that crazy cheap or what? Seagate's new 5TB BarraCuda ST5000 hard drive is the largest 2.5-inch hard drive yet. Seagate also announced a new $55 7mm thick BarraCuda ST2000LM015, which is the typical size for laptops. Unfortunately, the drive is only 2 TB.

06/20/2016

If you are a GoToMyPC user and having trouble logging on, that's because all user passwords have been reset. Apparently, there were attempted attacks on the weak user passwords so Citrix decided to reset them all. Citrix posted a notice that stated an automated attack was trying various combinations of user names and passwords. The website has posted recommendations for a strong password.

Don't use a word from the dictionary

Select strong passwords that can't easily be guessed with 8 or more characters

Substitute numbers for letters that look similar (for example, substitute "0" for "o" or "3" for "E".

One thing not mentioned was not to use the same password for multiple sites. If you do, then a compromise of your password will impact multiple logins. Yet again, another example of why you need to use a password manager.

06/09/2016

Not ready to drop down a bunch of clams for your next Surface purchase? Not a problem. Microsoft is offering a Surface Membership Plan to spread out payments over time. According to an ars technicareport, prices range from $32.99/month for a bottom spec Surface 3 bought over 30 months, up to $220.99/month for a top spec Surface Book bought over 18 months. You're going to pay around $400-$500 more for a device than you would if you purchased the Surface outright. Consider the cost difference to be a financing fee since you don't have to come up with the entire purchase price up front.

04/14/2016

If you have a perfectly good running Windows 10 device, now is a good time to create a recovery disk. A recovery disk will help you repair a damaged system and even reload Windows if you copy system files to the recovery drive. ZDNet has instructions for creating the recovery drive. In order to copy the system files, you'll need a drive that's at least 16GB. A 32GB USB flash drive would work nicely.

04/13/2016

Peyta is a pretty scary infection that takes ransomware to a new level. It not only encrypts your data, but encrypts the entire hard disk, including the master boot record (MBR). Encrypting the MBR means that the drive won't even boot since there is effectively no recognizable file system. Thanks to the efforts of a security researcher and a bug in the software, you won't have to pay the ransom in order to get access to your infected drive. The process may be a bit complicated for most users, but there are tools to help you along. A recent BGRpost is a good starting point.

You have to connect the infected drive to another uninfected computer. You'll then need to extract data from the hard drive: "specifically (1) the base-64-encoded 512 bytes starting at sector 55 (0x37h) with an offset of 0 and (2) the 64-bit-encoded 8-byte nonce from sector 54 (0x36) offset 33 (0x21)." I'm sure that sounds a little scary for most users that are not comfortable with forensic tools or hex editors. Not to worry, you can use the free Peyta Sector Extractor tool, which automates the process. After you grab the requisite data, you enter it into a web app to disclose the decryption password. Cool beans.

03/15/2016

Early reports indicated that Microsoft was dropping payment support for Bitcoins. Bitcoins are virtual currency used on the Darknet and the preferred method of payment for ransomware. Microsoft has been accepting Bitcoin in its Windows app store prior to the recent announcement. Now Microsoft says that the notice was an error and apologizes for the inaccurate information on its website. So not to worry. All you folks with electronic wallets stuffed with Bitcoin can still use them in the Windows app store and to purchase some illegal goods on the Darknet.

09/21/2015

According to Naked Security, Microsoft wants you to upgrade to Windows 10 even if you didn’t ask for it. Apparently, users of Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 devices have discovered that Windows 10 is being downloaded to a hidden folder on their device without being prompted for a download. One way to stop it is to turn off automatic updates. If you already upgraded to Windows 10, you’ve agreed to the automatic updates. Is Microsoft being too pushy? Perhaps, but you’ve got to admit that the upgrade will go a lot faster if the Windows 10 code is already resident on your computer when you decide to jump on the Windows 10 bandwagon.

09/10/2015

Apple has announced its new product line for the coming year. One of the announced products is the much larger iPad Pro. Over the next several weeks we should see a lot of testing and comparisons of the iPad Pro to the Surface Pro 3. The SuperSite for Windows already has an initial comparison. The iPad Pro has better screen resolution and a better rear camera, but worse front camera, than the Surface Pro 3. The storage capabilities fall short of what’s available with the Surface Pro 3 and there is no option for memory expansion with the iPad Pro. There’s a micro SD slot to expand storage capacity with the Surface Pro 3. Cost is an issue as well.

The biggest differentiator is the operating system. Obviously, the iPad Pro runs iOS (version 9 initially). While you can get a version of Office for iOS, your choices of other business applications is limited. The Surface Pro 3 runs Windows 10 so you can install any application software that is written for Windows. I don’t think the iPad Pro is going to get a lot of traction, especially given its cost, limited storage options and inability to run a majority of business applications. At least we can run QuickBooks, our billing software and other Windows applications on the Surface Pro 3.

05/06/2015

The Surface 3 is now available for order and purchase at Microsoft retail stores. That’s the good news. The better news is that for a limited time, you can get up to $150 off the Surface 3 if you upgrade your obsolete RT or Surface 2 model. Now would be a good time to ditch the old clunkers. The “rebate” offer is only available until the end of May. Obviously, there are other restrictions such as no cracked screens and a fully functional device. The Surface 3 looks like a good alternative to an iPad for consumer use. I’m sure you’ll want the more powerful Surface Pro 3 if you are looking to replace your business laptop.

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Disclaimer

This blog is intended to impart general information and does not offer specific legal advice. Use of this blog does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you require legal advice, consult an attorney.